Refrigerator-car.



R. F. MGGREGOR.

REFRIGERATOR GAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1909. 49,49 1 a Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

,C J A j WITNESSES ifiyka UNIT sas a :1 i 0 J.

NT @fCE.

REFRIGERATOR-CAR.

Application filed June 3, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT F. MoGnnoon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphla and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Refrigerator-Cars, of which the following 18 a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in refrigerator cars, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly simple and efi'ective device of this character,

whereby ice may be easily and readily placed in the ice receptacle, but which cannot be removed without great difficulty.

In the transportation of perishable foods, refrigerator cars are used which must be kept cold at all times and as these cars after being brought to their destination are side tracked and left sometimes as long as twenty-four hours before being unloaded, it is imperative that said cars be kept cold at all times. Then these cars are side tracked there are a certain class of men who, when the opportunity affords, climb upon them and steal this ice, and if this is not discovcred at once the foods therein will be left to spoil, thus causing millions of dollars loss each year. The present invention is designed to overcome this, for although it may be opened it cannot be readily accomplished by one man and will require considerable time even with a number of men, thereby causing them to remain upon top of the car for such a length of time that they may be detected.

lVith these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a broken sectional view of a car showing the position of the ice receptacle having my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional view of the receptacle, and Fig. 3, a plan view thereof, a portion of the frame being broken away to more clearly show the working of the device. Fig. 4, a side elevation of a modified Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Serial No. 499,928.

form of locking device. Fig. 5, a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 6 is an end view of the one of the rods showing the bracket in section.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents a car having an ice receptacle B situated in one end thereof and having a door 0 leading from the top of the car thereto.

To the upper end of the receptacle are socured four brackets D, two of which have a cut away portion as indicated by E, and these two are diagonally opposite each other. In these brackets are journaled the rods F, the ends of which are cut away to form the shafts G and the ends which fit in the brackets having the cutaway portion each have a shoulder I-I formed therewith. To the rods F are secured the fingers I so that the set of fingers on one rod intermesh with the set of fingers on the opposite rod and these are held in a horizontal position by strong springs J, which are coiled about the rods F and have one end resting against the under side of the fingers I and the opposite end against the sides of the receptacle.

When ice is to be placed within the receptacle the door C is to be removed and the ice dropped upon fingers I. When a piece or number of pieces of ice weighing a certain amount have been placed upon these fingers they are forced downward toward the sides of the receptacle allowing the ice to pass into said receptacle, and when the ice is clear of the fingers they will be brought back to the horizontal position by the springs J.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that it will be quite diflicult to push these fingers down against the actions of the springs J and then remove a piece of ice. If the strength of these springs is not sulficient the rods may be locked by placing a pin K in the shaft G, of said rods and when it is attempted to push the fingers I clownward, said pin K will abut against the shoulder formed by the cutting away of a portion of the brackets D. lVhenthese pins are in position a beading or frame-work L may be placed above the rods which will hide the pins K so that only persons who are authorized to open these receptacles will know how to do so.

In my modified form of locking device as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, I place upon the ends of the rods F sliding rings M, each of which is provided with slots N, through which passes a bolt 0, said bolt also passing through the hole P in the rod, and having a nut Q, threaded thereon. On one end of the ring M is formed a lug R which is bent inward so that it will rest between the shoulders formed with the rods and brackets by the cut away portion. By sliding this ring along the rod so that the lug will be between the shoulders said rod willbe prevented from turning or will be locked.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction here shown as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, is-

1. In combination with a refrigerator car, an ice receptacle, brackets secured to the upper ends of the sides, two of said brackets having cut away portions, rods having shafts formed on their ends, said shafts journaled in the brackets, shoulders formed on the ends of the rods which enter the brackets having cut away portions, a pin adapted to be inserted in said shafts, fingers mounted on the rods adapted to intermesh, and means for normally holding said fingers in a horizontal position.

2. In combination with a refrigerator car, an ice receptacle, brackets secured to the upper ends of the sides, two of said brackets having cut away portions, rods having shafts formed on their ends, said shafts journaled in the brackets, shoulders formed on the ends of the rods which enter the brackets having cut away portions, fingers mounted on the rods adapted to intermesh, springs coiled about the rods, an ofi set in each spring bearing against the under sides of one of said fingers, the opposite ends against the sides of the receptacle for normally holding said fingers in a horizontal position, a ring having slots therein, a lug formed with one end of said ring bent inward, a bolt passing through said slots in the ring, and the rod, and a nut threaded on the bolt.

3. In combination with a refrigerator car, an ice receptacle, brackets secured to the upper ends of the sides, two of said brackets having cut away portions, rods having shafts formed on their ends, said shafts journaled in the brackets, shoulders formed on the ends of the rods which enter the brackets having cut away portions, a pin adapted to be inserted in said shafts, fingers mounted on the rods adapted to intermesh, springs coiled about the rods, an off set in each spring bearing against the under sides of one of said fingers, the opposite ends against the sides of the receptacle for normally holding said fingers in a horizontal position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT F. MoGrREGOR.

Witnesses Enw. W. AUs'rIN, S. .M. GALLAGHER. 

